Micky Mellon: Oldham Athletic's growth and ambition inspired boss to join club

Image source, Rex Features

Image caption, Micky Mellon was appointed as Oldham Athletic manager on a three-year deal on Friday

Oldham Athletic boss Micky Mellon says the club's ambition to grow and return to the English Football League inspired him to join as their new manager.

Mellon was appointed on a three-year deal on Friday, having most recently managed Tranmere earlier in 2023.

The Latics are 12th in the National League and in their second season in the division, after being relegated from the EFL in 2022.

"We meet each other at a very good time," he told 大象传媒 Radio Manchester.

"I've done my time [managing in non-league] and it's been a long managerial career. It's a club that was relegated out of the EFL, has come back into the non-league and it's about growing again.

"It's been growing before I got here. Guys like David Unsworth have begun to turn things around and I get the opportunity to continue that work and build on that."

Mellon has been out of football since he left Tranmere in March, which was his second spell with the League Two club.

The Scot has twice won promotion from the National League, with Fleetwood and Tranmere, but was grateful to have some downtime in between jobs.

"I was able to have six or seven months away from football for the first time since I was 16 or 17. I was determined to use that time well and get to know my family better again," he added.

"I went out and rediscovered the way I wanted to do things but I was always determined to come back in when there was something that excited me."